NCAA Men’s Discus — Definitely Not According To Form

The predicted showers began just as the throwers started their warmups. Some covered their heads with a towel, some stayed attired in wind jackets, still others stalked around like it was no big deal. Regardless, the liquid sunshine persisted and puddles formed in the ring as the formchart went out the window, with the Nos. 1 & 2 in our predictions ending up 8th and 5th and the winner moved up from No. 5

In the first flight, Kord Ferguson, seemingly undaunted by the wetness, opened with 191-8/58.42. The Alabama junior celebrated with a flex, and the throw would hold up to be his best of the day. It would get the No. 7 seed a 4th.

Leading off the second flight, No. 5 seed Luke Vaughn, who had last qualified to the Nationals in ’15 (when he finished 14th) opened with a foul. “That woke me up,” Memphis’s 6-8/295 senior said. “We’ve been throwing in rain all year!” Throwing next, Maryland’s No. 4 seed Greg Thompson could muster only 175-8 (53.55).

Not rated despite his national list-leader of 206-4 (62.91), Purdue soph Ashmon Lucas could muster only 186-7 (56.88) on his first, and that would be his best. Favored Nicholas Percy of Nebraska fouled and would end up with a best of 186-1 (56.72) for 8th.

The rain appeared to be winning, but things changed in the second round when the giants awoke. Thompson spun 193-0 (58.66) to take the lead and SEC champ Brian Williams, ranked No. 3 coming in, bumped from 190-4 (58.02) to 190-11 (58.19).

Standing at a non-qualifying 10th to open the third round, Vaughn whipped the disc 198-2 (60.41) to pop into the lead. “I relaxed after that second throw and thought, ‘Stay wide, stay long,’” he said. “I’ve been shooting for this win!”

Not much changed after that. Williams moved past Ferguson into 3rd in the fourth round (192-4/58.62) and Iowa junior Reno Tuufuli, the No. 2 seed, jumped to 5th in the sixth
(189-0/57.61).

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